The Traditional Dutch Oliebollen (literally oil balls)
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| From New Year 2011-2012 |
As we have done last year, we took a champagne bottle, two champagne glasses and twelve sultanas each and we went to the street to watch the fireworks in our neighbourhood.
We stayed nearby the lake for a while and then we went for a walk until and along the canal.
The fireworks were absolutely AMAZING!!!! Each one better than the other. It seemed like a contest between neighbours.
I got the idea the Dutch were definitively telling a "GO AWAY 2011!", a strong "NO!" to the crisis and passing the message that 2012 would be a great year, against all odds: "We will fight this crisis and win!". Talking with one my neighbours, she expressed these same thoughts I was having at that moment.
What I've seen a couple of hours ago, I will never forget. The photos only give a small idea of the two hours show we have enjoyed.
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| From New Year 2011-2012 |
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| From New Year 2011-2012 |
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| From New Year 2011-2012 |
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| From New Year 2011-2012 |
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| From New Year 2011-2012 |
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| From New Year 2011-2012 |
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| From New Year 2011-2012 |
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| From New Year 2011-2012 |
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| From New Year 2011-2012 |
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| From New Year 2011-2012 |
Marco Borsato
Already back home, we went for a warm and delicious Caldo Verde, our Portuguese traditional New Year's Eve soup, and then sat down on the sofa to watch TV. We decided for SBS6 and the great show "Symphonica in Rosso" with the Dutch singer, Marco Borsato. Just loved it!!!
I can not place here the videos of the concert, but if you would like to see a great show of eletric guitars and violins, please, click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udv86haTu10.
In Volo: The Latin Touch of the Evening
Of course, this evening had a Latin touch too. :-)
After we enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by my hubby,
Prawn Cocktail
Of course, this evening had a Latin touch too. :-)
After we enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by my hubby,
Prawn Cocktail
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| From New Year 2011-2012 |
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| From New Year 2011-2012 |
we watched a concert given by the Italian teenager tenor group Il Volo at RTL8. I didn't know them yet. Great voices! Listen to them here in O Solo Mio :-) Have you already heard about In Volo? :-)
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This New Year's Eve was better that I was expecting. We were not in the mood for big parties. We just wanted to enjoy a cozy and relaxed evening. As I told you before, we have been tired because of the house's improvements we have been doing around here. Besides, December was not a very good month for me.
I have just lost a cousin with cancer in Christmas Day. Believe me, I'm very tired how this illness is taking away my family from me. I also received a lot of bad news from my family and friends in Portugal about the way the crisis is afecting them ("I have lost my job", "I've closed my firm.", etc).
The laws are changing too in my country. Many things will be quite different this year because of the agreement we have done with IMF. So I needed to spend some time trying to understand all the changes and to prepare my mother to face them in the smothiest possible way.
Last night, watching the fireworks show, I also gave a big "Goodbye to 2011!". I arrived at home feeling stronger and more hopeful in the near future. Focus, serenity, hope and self confidence will be my motto to face 2012.
If there is a "C" in my life, I prefer it to be a "C" of courage, not a "C" of "constant complains" or "crisis". ;-) Courage to deal with the situations, courage to cry when needed, courage to have a time for myself to put the things in order, courage to help myself and others, courage to make the best of it. That's the "C" I choose, keeping the faith and the hope.
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
Stay well! A great 2012 to all of you!! :-)
9 comments:
I do love the prawn cocktail and stuffed crab, what an accomplished husband you have! My husband is also quite handy in the kitchen.
So sorry about your cousin, it´s always harder when we lose a loved one around Christmas time.
I do agree with your word "Courage". It´s greatly needed at this terrible economic time in Europe. I hope that our leaders can do the right thing and steer the country in the right direction.
Gostei muito, sobretudo da tua decisão: «Focus, serenity, hope and self confidence will be my motto to face 2012». Vou tentar fazer o mesmo!
De resto fiquei com curiosidade sobre os bolos - parecem os nossos "sonhos", ou não? E também comi camarões e sapateira na noite de Ano Novo - e champanhe e passas, claro!!! Bjs e um Feliz 2012 para ti e para os teus!
Thank you, Sami! :-) :-) Beijinhos!! Feliz 2012! E junto-me a si, nos seus desejos. :-) Que tudo corra o melhor possivel para todos e consigamos encontrar um caminho.
Margarida, Obrigada! :-) As ollibollen sao como as farturas, mas num formato redondo. Boas entradas para 2012! Para a frente e que e o caminho ;-) Beijinhos! :-)
Happy New year..Feliz 2012..much Courage to you and your family..Creativity..a bit of Crazyness...a lot of good words start with C..and you see this C in everything good..Thank you for this post..:-)
Hugs from all of us
T.D and Company
Thank you, dear Dutchess! To you too, a great 2012!
Creativity and a bit of Crazyness, I like that very much
;-)) Make life more fun ;-))
It's taken me a while but I'm actually starting to quite like Ollibollen
Hi, Stu :-)
For me it was easy to like ollibollen because they taste to the Portuguese "farturas" (it's the same dough with the same ingredients but long, not round). I used to eat "farturas" in the Sain's Festivities in June (Saint Anthony, Saint John and Saint Peter).
Happy 2012! :-)
I like that, exchanging the C of crisis into the C of courage! I really do hope that 2012 is a better year than 2011 in a general sense (crisis, politics, etc) but honestly don't know... Like agent Mulder in the X Files: I want to believe :D
Happy New Year for you and your hubbie, Sandrinha!!
Thanks, Eber! :-)
Happy New Year for you and M. too :-)
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